Hello all!
I know this is not server related (thus it being in the General Discussion forum), but I am posting this to every Linux Forum I can think of to help get the best results...
Currently I have an ATI Radeon 9550 (256mb) video card with a dualhead setup. I am unable to run Compiz Fusion unless I use 1024x768 ratio because of the max texture size capable of ATI cards (1024 x 2 < 2048). Since I want my display to be 1280x1024 running dualhead, I have sacrificed Compiz Fusion (1280 x 2 > 2048) and decided to save up some $$$ for a new video card, this time nVidia is my choice.
However, I have recently found the need for a 3rd monitor (need more real estate). So I've done the math for nVidia's max texture size (1280 x 3 < 4096) and 3 monitors at 1280x1024 would be perfect, and still capable of running Compiz Fusion. This has got me really exited!
Then someone pointed out that I should go widescreen on the desktop. My notebook is already widescreen, and I like it.. So I did the math (1440 x 3 < 4096) and even triple widescreens will still work! So now I am really super excited! XD yay!
Now - there's just one thing left to do.. Research on what it takes to get 3 monitors working as one big desktop. Dualheads are easy, because my card has two outputs DVI & analog (with a DVI-> analog converter on the DVI port) for two monitors, and I just use the mergefb tools with the Radeon driver (the free one in the kernel - I hate FGLRX). With nVidia I am stepping into a whole new world as i've never owned one before (would have stayed that way if ATI wasn't so limiting in their hardware/drivers).
So here's the plan. I am going to buy a 512mb nVidia card (DVI+analog ports) for sure to at least get my dualhead working - I don't think I can ever go back to just one monitor ever again. But alas the new problem arises.. Do I need to get a
second nVidia card to get this 3rd monitor?? Or maybe there is a nVidia card that had 3 outputs? Or... Ultimately, would it be best to get 3
lesser nVidia cards?
Some basic info:
I'm not a gamer. I don't use Windows at all (except for the XP in VMWare to run IE7 to test my web pages in [i'm a web developer]). I watch a few movies on the computer, just every now and then. The only real 3D things I ever run are Compiz Fusion and my GL Screensaver(s). I run Debian Sid (Sid forever!! XD) with the 2.6.23.3 kernel (custom compiled). When I buy the video card(s) I am buying 3 brand new matching widescreen LCD monitors. Um..... I use XFCE as my DE (full time). I have a 2.7 ghz intel, 2gb ddr ram, 1.5TB hdd (combined sata, sataII, and ata133). My mobo only has
ONE AGP slot on the mobo and about 3 or 4 empty PCI (not PCI Express) slots available. If I have to, I am going to buy a new mobo too (then I get to use my AMD Opteron XD).
Ok - what this all boils down to is 3 things mainly...
1) Which video card do you prefer/recommend for my setup?
2) How many video cards am I going to need?
3) Point me in the right direction to get more info about triplehead setups on Linux.
Thanks! XD
